$ 







/i^'r- 







■^U ':-^ — - 



FACTS 



ITX KELATIOW 



TO THE PROGRESSIVE INCREASE, 



PRESENT CONDITION, 



AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, 



OP 






3 



AS 



^ 

^^i 



CONNECTED WITH THE PERMANENT LOCATION 



07 



TVBIilC BUILDIUaS. 



331)ilaTJclpf)ia : 
PRINTED BY J. SHARP, 335 NORTH SIXTH STREET. 
Nl 1^ 1838. 



Y***^' 



V. 



V 









o^ 



F A C T S, &c. 



The question of the location of the new Public Buildings, which 
seems now to be seriously agitated, is one that ought to be decided 
without any reference to personal interest ; but with entire regard 
to the convenience and accommodation of those for whose use they 
are intended. This decision, the writer believes, will be very 
much aided, by noticing some of the facts in relation to the pro- 
gressive increase of the city, up to this time, — its present condition 
and future prospects. After presenting various facts on these seve- 
ral points, he will express his own opinion with regard to the 
proper location of the buildings to be erected, and assign such 
reasons for it, as, to himself at least, appear satisfactory and con- 
clusive. 

Let us, then, first take a survey of the condition of the city about 
the period of the erection of the present state-house. It was com- 
menced in 1729, and finished in 1734, or 1735, about fifty years 
from the landing of William Penn, at an expense of about ^66000. 
At this time the depth of the lot was only about half the present 
distance between Chesnut and Walnut Streets, and so continued 
till 1762, when the other portion towards Walnut Street was pur- 
chased. The surface of the ground in the neighbourhood was very 
uneven and irregular, being more elevated than now ; and was sur- 
rounded with commons, duck ponds, and creeks, in which some of 



our citizens, who have died witliin a few years, remembered catcli- 
ing perch and other fishes. " 

The city was, in 1704, divided into ten wards,! wliich division, 
so far as known to the writer, continued until 1800. The eastern 
front, on the Delaware, from Vine to Walnut, was in two divisions, 
viz. Lower and Upper Delaware Wards. Their western boundary 
was Front Street, High Street being the dividing line. Lower 
Delaware contained, in 1741, (six years after the state-house was 
finished,) 115 taxables, and Upper Delaware Ward 99. From 
Walnut to Mulberry Street, and from Front to Second Street, con- 
tained three wards, viz. Walnut, Chesnut, and High. The first 
contained, in 1741, 98 taxables ; the second, 143 ; and the third, 
151. Mulberry Ward occupied the whole space between Front 
and Seventh Streets, and Vine and Mulberry, and contained, in the 
same year, 309 taxables. South, Middle, and North Wards, were 
formed out of the space between Mulberry and Walnut, and Second 
and Seventh. South Ward, in which stood the state-house, con- 
tained, in 1741, 105 taxables; Middle Ward, 236; and North 
Ward, 182. Dock Ward embraced all the portion of the city be- 
tween the Delaware and Seventh Streets, and Walnut and Cedar, 
and contained, in the same year, 183 taxables. The whole number 
of taxables in the city at this time (1741) was only 1621. § 

We have no earlier account of the number of houses in the city 
than 1749, when several respectable gentlemen (Dr. Franklin being 
one) undertook the task of making it. It was as follows : 



Mulberry Ward, - 


488 


Walnut Ward, 


104 


North, 


196 


Chesnut, 


110 


Middle, 


238 


High, - - 


147 


South, (state-house) 


117 


Lower Delaware, - 


110 


Dock, - - - 


245 


Upper Delaware 


109 



Making the total number of houses in the city in 1749, 1864,1 be- 
sides 11 places of worship. 

* Watson's Annals. 

•j- Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 110. 

t Watson's Annals, p. 662. 

§ Watson's Annals, page 662. Register of Pennsylvania, vol. ill. page 40. 



5 



Twenty years after, to wit, in 1709,* we have another enumera- 
tion, when it appears there were 3318 houses, being an increase of 
1454. This increase was principally in Dock, Mulberr}-, and 
North Wards. South Ward, in Avhich the state-house was located, 
had only thirty houses added to it in those twenty years. 

In 1777, when the British were in possession of the city. Lord 
Cornwallis directed General Howe to take a particular account of 
the houses, stores, and inhabitants, in each ward ; which being ac- 
complished, the result was published.! The following is the result 
of the number of houses, to which w^e add the increase in each 
ward for the twenty-eight years, since the above was taken ia 1749. 



Mulberry Ward, - 




1096 


increase 


608 


North, 


- 


427 




231 


Middle 




871 




133 


South (state-house). 


- 


1601 




43 


Dock, 




1016 




771 


Walnut, 


- 


110 




6 


Chesnut, 




118 




8 


High, 


- 


193 




46 


Lower Delaware, - 




123 




13 


Upper Delaware, 


- 


249 




140 


Houses, 


3863 




1999in28yrs 



The reason why Walnut, Chesnut, High and Lower Delaware 
did not proportionally increase with the other wards probably is, 
that being small wards, and convenient to the river business, they 
were filled up at first, and had not room for further additions. 

We will now inquire into the number of inhabitants at several 
periods. 

In 1744 the population of the city was estimated by Secretary 
Peters at 13,000,§ though it appears by a statement,]] that in 1753 

• Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. p. 448. Watson, p. 664. 
f Pennsylvania Evening Post, 1778. Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. p. 127. 
^ Increase in eight years 13. 
§ Watson, page 662. 

n Mease's Picture of Philadelphia, page 31 ; this and the following items pro- 
bably embrace the then suburbs. 



6 



i 



there were 14,563; in 1760, 18,756; in 1769, 28,042; and 
in 1777 General Howe made it but 15,847. But as he found 383 
houses empty, the probability is, many of the inhabitants had fled 
from the city on the approach of the British. He found in 

Mulberry Ward . 4011 inhab. Walnut Ward, . . 418 inhab. 

North, 1725 " Chesnut, 445 "- 

Middle, 1447 '" High, 721 " 

South (state-house) 619 " Lower Delaware, . 410 

Dock, 5307 " Upper Delaware, . 744 






About the year 1774 the Walnut Street Prison was built. 
With regard to the early commerce of the city, we are in pos- 
session of but few facts. It appears that in 

1722, 10 vessels of 428 Tons were built* 

1723, 13 " 507 

1724, 19 " 959 
and in 1722,t 96 vessels of 3531 Tons cleared 

1723, 99 " 3942 

1724, 119 " 5450 " 

1725, 140 " 6655 






n 



And in 1728-9,J 14 ships, '3 snows, 8 brigs, 2 schooners, and 9 
sloops were frozen up at the docks at one time. 

The trade with Great Britain formed at this time, probably, the 
largest portion of the commerce of the city. The imports and 
exports for a few years will furnish some idea of its extent. 

EXPORTS. IMPORTS. 

1729, £ St. 7,434 16 1 £ st. 29,799 10 10 

1730, 10,582 1 4 48,592 7 5 

1731, 12,786 11 6 44,260 16 1 

1732, 8,524 12 6 41,698 13 7 

1733, 14,776 19 4 40,565 8 1§ 

* Votes of Assembly. Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 5. 

t Ilnd. 

+ Watson, page 659. 

§ Wliitvvorth's Trade of Great Britain ; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 6. 



Ill 1729 a mail went to New York once in two weeks in winter, 
and once a week in summer. 

In 1735, 199 vessels entered and 212 cleared.* 
1736,211 - - 215 do. 

1742, 230 - - 281 do. 

So that the commerce of the city had somewhat increased in the 
seventeen years. 

The exports from Great Britain were, in 1742, 568527 12*\ 8f/. 
and the imports were £75,295 3s. 4(1. sterling. 

In 1777,t the number of stores, as ascertained by General Howe, 
was 315, viz. in 



Mulberry Ward 


17 


Walnut 


5 


North 


- 28 


Chesnut 


8 


Middle 


15 


High 


6 


South (state-house) 


9 


Lower Delaware 


- 100 


Dock 


55 


Upper Delaware 


72 



which shows that business was principally confined to the neigh- 
bourhood of the river. 

We have now brought down our historical sketch of the city to 
the period of the revolution, embracing about one hundred years 
from its settlement, and have shown how slow was its progress ; 
which the circumstances of the succeeding ten years were not cal- 
culated to hasten. 

In 1784,f the year after the peace, the imports from Great Britain 
amounted to £689,491 9s. 9rf. sterling; and in 1785 they fell to 
£369,215 8s. 5d. The exports in 1784 were £70,263 10s. 9d. 
and in 1785, £57,705 6s. 5fZ sterling. 

In 1783 the number of houses was estimated at 6000,§ and in 
1790, at 6651. And the population, as ascertained by the congres- 
sional census of that year, was 28,522. || Up to this year, and for 

* Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 127 in detail. 

f Ibid, page 127. 

t Whitworth ; Register of Pennsylvania. 

§ Mease — city and suburbs 1 

il Ibid, city. 



8 

several years beyond it, as will be seen presently, the improve* 
ments did not extend even to Seventh Street, the then western limit 
of the wards. 

Since commencing this article an aged citizen informed the 
writer, that "he well remembers when a ceitain house (still stand- 
ing) was erected in Market above Fifth Street, 1792, the owner 
was almost considered as deranged for placing his building so far 
beyond tho seat of civilization." 

Watson, in his Annals, published in 1830, says: " It is only 
thirty years (1800) since the north side of Chesnut Street, facing 
the state-house, now so compact and stately in its houses, had but 
two good houses in the whole line of the street from Fifth to Sixth 
Street ; but one of these now remains, the present residence of P. 
S. Duponceau, Esq., at the north-east corner of Sixth Street. The 
whole scene was an out-town spectacle, without pavement, and of 
iminviting aspect. In the midst of this area stood the State-house 
Inn, a small two story tavern, of rough-dashed construction, very 
old, being marked with the year 1693, as its birth-year. It stood 
back a little from the line of the street, but in lieu of a green court- 
yard to gratify the eye, the space was filled with bleached oyster- 
shells, — the remains of numerous years of shells, left about the 
premises at occasions of elections, &c. It looked like a sea-beach 
tavern. That single and diminutive inn for a long time gave all the 
entertainment then taken by the court suitors, or by those who 
hung about the colonial assemblies and the primitive Congress. 
But desolate as it looked in front and rear, having a waste lot of 
commons instead of garden shrubbery, and the neighbouring lots 
equally open and cheerless, there was a redeeming appendage in a 
range of lofty and primitive walnut trees, which served as distant 
pointers to guide the stranger to the venerable state-house, — itself 
beyond the verge of common population." Page 349. 

" The ground forming the square from Chesnut to Walnut 
Street, and from Sixth to Seventh, was all a grass meadow, under 
fence down to the year 1794. On the Chesnut Street side it was 
liigh and had steps of ascent cut into the bank, and across it went a 
foot-path as a short-cut to the almshouse out Spruce Street. The 
only liouscs to be seen were the low brick building, once the Logan- 



ian Library on Sixth Street, and the Episcopal Academy, built in 
1 780, on Chesnut Street." " The next square beyond, westward, Avas 
Norris's pasture lot." " On the northwest corner of Chesnut and 
Seventh Streets was a high grass lot, in a rail fence, extending half 
way to Eighth Street. Except one or two brick houses at the 
corner of Eighth Street, you met no other house to Schuylkill." 
" There were no houses built out Arch or Race Street, save here 
and there a mean low box of wood, beyond Sixth Street." 

" When the Roman Catholic Church at the corner of Sixth and 
Spruce Street was built, it was deemed far out of town, — a long and 
muddy walk, — for there were no streets paved near to it, and no 
houses were then nigh. From this neighborhood to the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital, then having its front of access on its eastern gate, 
was quite beyond civilization. There were not streets enough 
marked through the waste lots, in the western parts of the city, to 
tell a traveller on what square he was travelling." " We shall be 
within bounds to say, that twenty-five years ago (1805), so few 
owners enclosed their lots towards Schuylkill, that the street roads 
of AValnut, Spruce and Pine Streets could not be traced by the eye 
beyond Broad Street, and even it was then known but upon paper 
drafts." 

Birch's Views of the City in 1 800 confirm the above account. 
For between the President's house on Ninth Street, now the Uni- 
versity, and the almshouse on Spruce Street, there is no intervening 
object. The writer of this well remembers when the whole of that 
square, in which stood Markoe's house, was enclosed by a post and 
rail fence, and almost the only house west of it was Dunlap's, at the 
corner of Twelfth and Market Streets. 

Our attention has thus far been directed entirely to the limits of 
the city proper. Let us now look at some few facts respecting the 
suburbs and the county. 

Li 1749* there were in the Northern Liberties 62 houses. In 
1769,* there were 553 houses, and in 1777,t there were 1286, and 
35 stores, and 5015 inhabitants. Li 1790,± they had increased to 
8337. 

* Watson, page 662. 664. 

f Pennsylvania Evening Post, 1778 ; Reg. Penn. vol. i. page 127. 

t Mease, page 35. 

B 



10 

In 1749* there were in Southwark 150 houses. In 1769 there 
were 603 houses, and in 1777,1 836, and 6 stores, and 2873 inha- 
bitants. In 1790,t they had increased to 5661. Passyunk con- 
tained in that year 884, and Moyamensing- 1 592 inhabitants. 

From the returns of members to the General assembly we have 
the following account of the highest and lowest number of votes 
given at elections in the County for several years about the time of 
the erection of the state-house. The county at this time extended 
to the southern limit of Berks, and embraced the whole of Mont- 
gomery county. § 



1727 


highest vote 787 


lowest 482 


1728 


971 


487 


1730 


622 


365 


1732 


904 


559 


1734 


821 


441 


1735 


1097 


517 


1736 


719 


439 


1738 


1506 


736 


1739 


555 


332 



In 1741,11 the number of taxables in the county was 3422, and in 
1760, 5687, and the county tax was £5653 19s. Qd. Within the 
county there were 83 grist mills, 40 saw, G paper, 1 oil, 12 fulling, 
1 horse, and 1 wind mill, and 6 forges. 

In 1779, there were 70G6 taxables in the county. 
1786, 4516 0} 

1793, 6885 

1800, 7919 

About the year 1800, the improvements began to extend west of 
Seventh Street, in some of the principal streets. In 1802, as we 
learn from the dates on the houses, the improvements were made 
on the square between Chesnut and Walnut and Seventh and 
Eighth, on the ruins of the immense edifice of Robert Moiris, which 
had been commenced a few years previously. From this time 
buildings began to be erected with some spirit, in various directions, 
as the following table of the houses built in the respective years 
will show : 

* Watson, pa<Te 664. 

•j Pennsylvania Evening Post; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 127. 
% Meascj page 35. " § Watson, 663. Il Ibid, page 659. 

1 Probably reduced by the revolution. 






■.» 



*In 1 802 


464 


1803 


385 


1804 


273 


11^09 


1295 



11 

In 1834 361 t 

1835 465 

1836 3C9 

1837 245 
How many of these were erected in the western part of the citv 

- we are unable to ascertain precisely ; but we know that a great 
number of those erected within the last few years have been built 
beyond Broad Street. And, indeed, an inspection of the houses in 
that quarter will show, that they almost all present an appearance of 
very late erection. 

Let us now take a summary view of some facts relating to the 
present condition of the city, by which it may be compared with 
the past. 

SThe Taxables in the city, in 1835, were 18,449, and in the 
county, 31,798.t The number of inhabitants probably 100,000 in 
jjjj^, the city — at the general election in that year the highest vote was 

^ 5,532§ — in the county 6,048 — and the united highest vote of both 

11,596. In the year ending September, 183611 — there were built 
74 vessels of 10,214 Tons. The amount of Tonnage owned was 
91,905 Tons— 407 vessels entered. Tonnage 89,485, and 350 
cleared— 64,019. Imports §15,068,233— Exports §3,971,555. 
■■.■^i The whole number of arrivals including coastwise, in 1837, was 

8185. Valuation of city, §68,528,742^— county §56,521,225. 
An immense trade with the west — all the principal streets paved 
from the Delaware to Schuylkill, with comfortable foot-pave- 
ments, lighted by night with lamps and Gas — and the whole city 
^M supplied with pure and wholesome water — omnibuses to convey 

persons from river to river, and rail-ways connected with the 
Northern and Southern portions of the county, and with the 
heart of the city. Such is the present state of the city — how 
different from what it was at the periods we have already no- 
ticed. 

That the city has been extending westwardly with great 
rapidity is proved by the following facts. 

1. The limits of the Wards have been twice altered since the 
census of 1790, viz. in 1800 and 1825. 

* Watson t Minutes of Select and Common Councils. t Ibid. 
§ Official returns : Register of Pennsylvania, vol. xvi. page 278. 
II Report of Secretary of Treasury, on Comm. and Navigation. 
H Commercial List ; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. xvi. page 62, 



12 

2. The number of taxables in the eastern wards between 
1828 and 1835 decreased 836, while in the Western, they in- 
creased in the same time 2,743.* 

3. The valuation of property in the eastern wards only in- 
creased between 1829 and 1835, S30,06l — while that in the 
western increased S3, 178,650, as by the following tables.! 



Easfern, 

New Market, 

Lower Delaware, 

Pine, 

Upper Delaware, 

Chesnut 

Walnut, 

High. 

Dock, 



1829. 

1,264,469 
1,593,733 
1,257,165 
1,261,635 
3,106,572 
2,240,299 
2,949,362 
1,921,924 



15,595,159 



1835. 

1,045,398 
1,653,855 
1,168,520 
1,287,141 
3,228,078 
2,254,793 
3,192,825 
1,794,610 

15,625,220 

Increase, 30,061. 



Western, 

North, 

S. Mulberry, 

Locust, 

N. Mulberry, 

Middle, 

South, 

Cedar, 



1,711,745 

1,069,534 
1.655,472 

716,918 
1,357,545 
1,467,345 

629,068 



8,607,627 



2,163,838 
1,393,006 
2,004,173 
1,051,050 
1,858,037 
1,983,305 
1,33 



'^-^-2,868 



11,786,277 



Increase, 3,178,650. 



4. The population, according to the census of 1830, of the 
Eastern wards was onlv 5456 greater than of the Western. 

5. The comparative increase of TaxesJ of the eastern and 
western wards from 1832 to 1836, as appears by the follow- 



ing tables. 



* Minutes of Select and Common Council. f Official Documents. 

^ We have taken the County Tax on Cit}-^ property in all cases where the 
Taxes are referred to. 



13 



Eastern, 


1832. 


1836. 


New Market, 


$6,768 63 


7,113 01 


Lower Delaware, 


10,260 79 


11,095 52 


Pine, 


7,145 41 


7,859 32 


Upper Delaware, 


8,049 25 


8,676 42 


Chesnut, 


19,895 03 


21,080 68 


Walnut, 


13,227 21 


14,470 87 


High, 


19,954 00 


20,908 77 


Dock, 


12,896 44 


12,025 96 




§98,196,76 


$103,230,55 


Western, 






North, 


11,391 47 


14,220 61 


S. Mulberry, 


7,651 75 


9,376 &5 


Locust, 


11,293 88 


13,543 60 


N. Mulberry, 


5,598 39 


7,237 67 


Middle, 


9,581 12 


12,393 79 


South, 


11,194 29 


13,095 06 


Cedar, 


5,269 79 
61,980 69 


8,797 42 




78,664 80 



From the foregoing it appears that the Tax on property in 
the eastern wards amounts to §5,033.79 more in 1835, than it 
did in 1832, while the Tax on property in the Western Wards 
has in the same time increased §16,684.11 — being, in the first 
case, an increase of 5.12 per cent on the Taxes of 1832, and 
in the latter, an increase of 26,82 per cent. 

There are two causes which naturally lead to the increase 
of the city westward. 

1. The increase of population, and the greater space now re- 
quired for the transaction of business than formerly — when 
most of the houses were occupied both as stores and dwellings 
— whereas now, in many streets, the whole tenement is used en- 
tirely as a store, and its former inmates have sought residences 
in other parts of the city. These, again, by the gradual extension 
of business, have been compelled to leave what they had first 
selected as private and retired residences, for others still fur- 
ther towards the west. 

2. Another reason is, the actual increase of business on the 
western border of the city, of which we shall speak more pre- 
sently. 



14 

That ihc citj must continue to extend in a western direction 
will, we think, appear from the following remarks. 

1. There is but comparatively little room in the eastern 
wards for further improvements. In 1790, when the first U. S. 
census was taken, the dimensions of the whole city, divided 
among the inhabitants, gave to each person 1 755 square feet ; in 
1800 the space to each was reduced to 1216, in 1810 to 93S, in 
1820 to 786, and in 1830 to 623 feet each. Upon the same prin- 
ciple, the following table shows the average of the Western and 
Eastern Wards : 

EASTERN. WESTERN. 

1800 — 373 square feet. 2,109 square feet to each.* 
1810—349 1,359 

1820—340 1,058 

1830—313 979 

2. The great and rapidly increasing trade with the Vv^est ; 
and the various methods used for extending and accommodating 
it, in the western part of the city, will undoubtedly in a few 
years, cover the already contracted western wards with houses 
and population. That William Penn, in his great wisdom and 
foresight, regarded such an event as certain, is evident, from 
the following expressions used by him in his letter, dated 16th 
of 6 mo. 1683, to a committee of the "Society of Free Tra- 
ders," in London. Comparing the two rivers, he says — " Dela- 
ware is a glorious river, but Schuylkill, being a hundred miles 
boatable above the falls, and its course N. E. towards the foun- 
tain of Susquehannah that tends to the heart of the province, 
and both sides our own, it is like to be a great part of the set- 
tlement of this age." 

And in 1690, he actually issued proposals for building ano- 
ther city, " upon the river Susquehannah that runs into the 
Bay of Chesapeake, and bears about 50 miles from the river 
Delaware." 

" There," (says he) " I design to lay out a plan for the build - 
ins of another citv in the most convenient place for com muni- 
cation, with the former plantations on the East, which by land 
is as good as done already, a way being laid out between the 

* See Register of Pennsylvania, vol. viii. p. 67, for a table of the densencss 
of population in each ward. 



15 

two rivers, very exactly and conveniently at least tliree years 
af;-o ; and which will not be hard to do by water, by the benefit 
of the river Scoulklll, for, a branch of that river lies near a 
branch that runs into Susquehannagh River, and is the couunon 
course of the Indians with their Skins and Furi's into our parts, 
and to the provinces of East and West Jersey, and New York, 
from the fVest and Northioest parts of the continent from whence 
they bring them." 

"But that which recommends both this settlement in par- 
ticular and the province in general, is a late pattent obtained 
by divers eminent Lords and gentlemen for that land that lies 
north of Pennsylvania, up to the 4Qth degree and an half, be- 
cause their TraSic and intercourse will be chiefly through Penn- 
sylvania which lies between that province and the sea. We have 
also the comfort of beina; the centre of all the English Colonies 
upon the continent of America, as they lie from the N. E. parts 
of New England to the most Southerly parts of Carolina, being 
above 1000 miles upon the coast."* 

Although V/illiam Penn did not live long enough to see the 
fulfilment of all his extended and pleasing anticipations, yet 
we, his descendants, are now realizing and benefiting by their 
accomplishment. 

1. Then, we have a regular connection with the Susquehan- 
nah by both "land and water," and with the immense Coal and 
Iron regions, 108 "miles above the falls," upon the Schuylkill. 
The importance and increase of this branch of business will ap- 
pear by the following facts. 

In 1825, there were brought down the Schuylkill 6500 tons 
of Coal, which by the last report of the Schuylkill Navigation 
Company, has so much increased, that last year (1837,) no less 
than 506,475 tons reached this city, which at an average price 
of S5s per ton, would amount to §2,785,612 being greater than 
the value of all the Imports from Great Britain, in any one year 
(with two or three exceptions) of the first 100 years from the 
landing of William Penn, and equal to more than two-thirds of 
the value of all the exports from the state to all parts of the world 
in the year ending September, 1836. The whole amount of 
tonnage on this Canal, in 1837, was 726,730 tons. In 13 years, 

* Register of Pennsylvania, vol. i. page 400. 



16 

viz. from 182'5 to 1837, the amount of tolls alone have increased 
from 815,775.74* to 604,189.57, a sum exceeding twice the value 
of all the exports to Great Britain from the colony in any one 
of the first 100 years after its settlement. 

Of the Coal which reached the city by the Schuylkill in 
1837, 328,304 tons were shipped from that river in 3070 vessels, 
which shows a considerable increase since 1834, in which year 
only 1654 vessels were employed for that purpose, viz,. 72 
brigs, 1,122 schooners, 420 sloops. On the 4th June, 1832, 
117 vessels passed through Gray's Ferry bridge, 40 of which 
were brigs and large schooners, and a few days before 104 ves- 
sels exclusive of boats passed ; formerly only 3 or 4 passed 
per week. It is but a few years since only a wood shallop was 
to be occasionally seen on this river, which now transports mii- 
lions on its waters. 

The whole amount of tonnage employed in transporting coal 
on the Schuylkill in 1835, was 24,733 tons, and in 1836, 24,479 
boats passed the Fairmount locks with coal or other products ; 
and in the same year, 12,200 boats ascended the river ; and in 
1837, 13,870 boats ascended, of which 5102 were loaded with 
merchandize; and 13,912 boats descended, of which 8960 were 
loaded with coal, and 4952 with produce, limestone and other 
articles, making the total number of boats which passed the 
Fairmount locks in 1837, 27,782 ; besides all which, there is a 
considerable portion of the trade of the Schuylkill at interme- 
diate points, which does not reach the city, as for instance, 575 
boats with 28,775 tons of coal, last year discharged their car- 
goes short of the city. 

2. Let us turn towards the business of the Susquehannah. 
By the report of the Union Canal Company it appears, during 
the year ending November, 1837,t there were transported 
246,472,833 lbs. or 110,032 tons, and that tolls to the amount 
of S107,590 37 were received, and that 6,204 boats passed 
through that canal. 

We have now in connection with Stale Canals and Rail 
Roads, a regular communication with Pittsburg, forming to- 
gether a length of 401 miles, and thus opening in every direc- 

* Report of .Schuylkill Navigation Company, 1838. 
t Report of Union Canal Company, 1837. 



17 

lion a trade with the great West to an almost unlimited extent, 
"passing through the heart of our own state," where but a few 
years since the savage roamed and murdered the almost de- 
fenceless settlers. In 1753* in Pittsburg, itself, now called the. 
" Gate of the West," there was not a single white man residing. 
In 1770 there were but about 20 houses, inhabited by Indian 
traders. In 1793t the arrival of a keel boat was considered 
one of the greatest enterprises ever performed. In 1804J it was 
a village — in ]805§ the first stage crossed the mountains, re- 
quiring 7 days of hard labour, to reach that city. In 1833 there 
were four daily stages, in 1834 the journey was performed in 
57 hours. It now probably contains 40,000 inhabitants. In 1834 
there were 120 steam engines in operation, and 1634 steamboats 
arrived and departed, || and the city business is estimated at 15 
to 20 millions of dollars per annum. " It communicates with 
upwards of 50,000 miles of steam navigation, of the vast and 
fertile valley of the Mississippi, extending over a surface near 
1500 miles square."^} 

Let us now examine the business upon these rail roads and 
canals, the main line of which to Pittsburg cost for its con- 
struction §12,358,000.** By the Canal Commissioners Report, 
it appears that, in 1837, S885, 199.99 were received in tolls, 
and for motive power on this part of the State works, being 
about 3 per cent on its cost. That the arrivals and departures 
of boats and cars were equal to 50,248 westwardly, and 51,092 
eastwardly. 

What the value of property transported was, cannot be ascer- 
tained, but wlien it is considered that most of the supplies for the 
whole extent of the Mississippi valley, and even beyond it, pass 
by this route, it must indeed be immense. Some few facts will, 
however, tend to throw light on this point. In I835,tt before 
the Canal was opened in the spring at Pittsburg, it is stated by 
an " old merchant" of that place, that 200 to 250 wagons ar- 

* Pittsburg Gazette ; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. xii. page 303. 
t Wheeling Gazette ; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. xii. page 196. 
i Breckenridge's Sketches; Reg. of Penn. vol. xiv. page 25, 41. 
§ Pittsburg Gazette ; Reg. of Penn., vol. xiii. page 384. 
II Pittsburg Statesman ; Reg. of Penn., vol. xv. page 80. 
^ Pittsburg Gazette ; Reg. of Penn., vol. xvi. page 22. 
** Canal Commissioners Report, page 7. 
•j-j- Pittsburg Advocate ; Reg. of Penn. vol. xvi. page 30. 

o 



18 

rived there weekly with goods from the East, and when the 
canal opened, although ten daily lines of boats, instead of four or 
five, the usual number, were employed, they were insufficient to 
carry off the goods as fast as they arrived. From the l6ih 
March to 22nd June, 1835, 30,234,065 pounds were received 
from the East, and 16,653,429 pounds sent to the East, and 873 
boats departed for the East, and 849 arrived from the P^ast. 
The same merchant estimates the value of goods arriving by 
wagons and the Pennsylvania canals at from 50 to 70 millions 
of dollars.* From November 1834, to November 1835, 14,172 
cars departed from Philadelphia to the West, and the number 
of miles travelled by passengers on the route was 2,875,6491; 
and in 1837, 104,793 passengers were conveyed on the Colum- 
bia and Philadelphia Rail Road, and 37,555 cars passed the 
Schuylkill inclined plane.t There are now employed on this road 
40 locomotive engines, some of them capable of drawinga train of 
SO cars. The expense of transportation does not probably exceed 
one half of that by wagons. There were the past season in 
operation 11 transportation companies, 5 from Schuylkill and 
6 from Broad street, capable of conveying 550 tons of goods 
daily, equal to nearly 200 wagon loads.J 

Besides the state roads and canals, there are others, or soon 
will be, in every direction either uniting with them or entering 
at other points, the western portion of the city, among which is 
the important one just being completed between this city and 
Baltimore. 

With all these facilities of intercourse, and with such an ex- 
tent of country to be supplied through their instrumentality, 
who can pretend to limit the extent of business, which must 
ultimately be concentrated in this western quarter of the city ! 
These works and this trade are all comparatively in their in- 
fancy. Who can foretel, what other channels and sources of 
business may be developed in the course of their progress, which 
are now unthought of? 

The time is probably not very distant, when all the business 

* Pittsburg Advocate ; Register of Pennsylvania, vol. xvi. page 30. 
-j- Documents of Canal Commissioners, pages 56, 85. 

t Statement in the daily Newspapers of the Companies, and their respective 
capabilities. 



19 

connected with the west, will be transacted in that quarter of 
the city, and when vessels will at once enter the Schuylkill with 
their foreign cargoes and receive in return the western produce 
— for it is not reasonable to suppose, that the wholesale stores 
which supply the groceries and dry-goods, intended to be sent 
off by the western canals and rail roads, will always be alone 
found in the eastern portion of the city, when suitable accom- 
modations for their business can be provided in the very quar- 
ter, from which the goods are to be forwarded to their destina- 
tion ; especially as the heavy charges of porterage and commis- 
sions for forwarding, and the delay in sending merchandize to 
this point, may be avoided — each river will most probably have 
its appropriate sphere of business. In times of a brisk com- 
merce, the wharves of the Delaware have been found scarcely 
sufficient for the accommodation of the vessels. We have seen 
them lying two or three abreast, waiting for their turns for an 
inside birth, and that day may again arrive. And we already see 
that the wharves as yet constructed on the Schuylkill, afford 
but partial accommodation for the small business, compared 
with what it must before many years be, which it now enjoys — 
so that both rivers may be necessary, to meet the demands of 
commerce ; and both sides of the Schuylkill, if its trade extend 
as rapidly as it has done for the past ten years. 

With such prospects before us, and with all these facts star- 
ing us in the face, we cannot but think it would be unwise to 
erect buildings which are to accommodate the citizens, for cen- 
turies perhaps to come, in the very neighbourhood, selected 
when there were but 1621 taxables in the city; and but 103 in 
the very ward in which the State House stands, and but 117 
houses, even 15 years after its erection. If therefore we are to 
regard at all, in this matter, the future population of the city, 
as well as the present, the public buildings ought to be placed 
in some central position, as nearly equally accessible to all as 
possible — and we are decidedly of the opinion, (without having 
any personal interest as regards property,) that Penn Square 
is the proper place for them, both with a view to the present as 
well as future generations — and for the following reasons : 

1. The city already owns that property, and it was given to 
it for the very purpose — and was, no doubt, selected by Penn, 



20 

with his usual foresight and wisdom, having regard to the future 
accommodation of both sections of the city. It is described as 
follows: " In the centre of the city is a square of ten acres, at 
each angle to build houses for public aifairs." "In the middle 
of the city, from side to side, of the like breadth in the centre 
of the city, is a square of ten acres ; at each angle are to be 
houses for public affairs, as a Meeting House, Assembly, or 
Slate House, Market House, Schoolhouse, and several other 
buildings for public concerns.''* The inference from which is, 
that this was the only site designed by Penn, even in these 
early days, for the public buildings.! 

2. The price of purchase of another site, would be equivalent 
probably to the expense of erecting a new building, which the 
city may as well save. 

3. It will probably be as convenient to the present population 
as any other situation : lor, 

1. The greater number of Taxable inhabitants reside within 
the limits of the western wards, as is shown by the following 
table ; — for the sake of comparison, a table oftaxables in 1828, is 

added.f 

Eastern Wards. 1828. 2 835. 

New Market, 1452 1472 

Lower Delaware, 1501 1285 

Pine, 1020 869 

Upper Delaware, 1216 1142 

837 
739 
825 
899 



Chesnut, 


821 


Walnut, 


1117 


High, 


914 


Dock, 


8G3 




8904 


Western Wards. 




North, 


1393 


South Mulberry, 


1051 


Locust, 


13G4 


North Mulberry, 


1011 


Middle, 


774 


South, 


599 


Cedar, 


1446 



8068 

1710 
1230 
1659 
1470 

1023 
1103 
2186 



7638 10381 

* Advertisement bj' the Surveyor General, Thomas Holmes; Digest of City- 
Ordinances, page 347. 
I A Meeting House -was erected there in 1685 ; Watson, page 337. 
T Minutes of Select and Common Councils, page 142. 



21 



Thus we see that there are 2313 more tax payers, and proba- 
bly property holders in the western wards, than in the eastern, 
and that while the western increased 2743, the eastern decreas- 
ed 836. 

2. The largest portion of the population resides in the west- 
ern wards, as the following table will show, based upon the cal- 
culation of 5 inhabitants to 1 taxable, which proportion has 
been ascertained to be about correct, as compared with the 
census tables. At the census of 1830, there were only 5456 
more persons in the eastern than the western wards. 



Eastern. 




Western. 




New Market, 


7360 


North, 


8550 


Lower Delaware, 


6425 


South Mulberry, 


. 6150 


Pine, 


4345 


Locust, 


8295 


Upper Delaware, 


5710 


North Mulberry, 


. 7350 


Chesnut, 


4185 


Middle, . 


5115 


Walnut, 


3695 


South, 


. 5515 


High, 


4125 


Cedar, 


10930 


Dock, 


4495 







40340 



51905 



Showing a difference of population in favor of the western 
wards of 11,565 in 1835, which has since been increased. What 
will it be by the time the buildings are finished, if commenced 
at once? It is believed, from some examination into the sub- 
ject, that most of the Judges of the courts as well as lawyers, re- 
side in the western wards. The largest number of votes at the 
last election, was given in the western wards, as appears by 
the following table, for State Senator, October, 1837. 

Eastern. Western. 
New Market, 492 North, 732 



Lower Delaware, .... 559 

Pine, 417 

Upper Delaware, .... 569 

Walnut, 282 

Chesnut, 319 

High 389 



South Mulberry, .... 576 

Locust, 638 

North Mulberry 739 

Middle, 500 

South, 544 

Cedar, ,606 



Dock, 



417 



5444 



4335 



Showing a difference in favour of the western wards of 891. 



22 

3. The valuation of property in the two portions of the city 
does not present so great a diiference as might be imagined. 
In 1835 the eastern were assessed at 815,625,220 
western 11,786,277 



difference, S 3,838,943 * 

But it is well known that the most important improvements in 
the western wards have taken place since that assessment. The 
assessment now in progress, would probably exhibit a very dif- 
ferent result. From 1829 to 1835 the eastern wards only in- 
creased in value 830,061 while the western gained 3,178,650. 

4. By means of the rail roads, which will all centre at this 
point, it will be more convenient to residents in the northern 
parts of the city and county, as well as in the southern to come 
to Penn Square, than it will be for the inhabitants of the west- 
ern wards to go to the neighborhood of the present State house: 
and certainly much more so than it was for the inhabitants at the 
lower end of tlie very ward where the State house stands for 
sixty or seventy years after it was erected. 

5. The city has a direct interest in placing the State house 
in Penn Square, beside that of owning it. It will be the means 
of extending improvements in every direction, by which, not 
only the City revenue from taxes will be augmented, thereby 
refunding the large expenditures heretofore made for paving, 
lighting, and furnishing water to this portion of the city, hither- 
to solely for the convenience of the Eastern population ; but the 
value of the City property in this quarter will be much enhan- 
ced, and they have at this time a large interest here and in the 
neighborhood, vix. The Girard buildings from Market to Ches- 
nut, the city stores, wharves. Gas works, unimproved property 
and water works on Schuylkill, public squares, Girard Col- 
lege, Will's Hospital, markets, &c. which would all be benefited. 

6. The employment which all the improvements consequent 
on the occupation of Penn square, would furnish to thousands 
of mechanics, is an important consideration. Independent of 
those who might be engnged about the public buildings (let them 
be placed where they may be) the number of private andproba- 

* See page 12. 



23 

biy other public buildings which would be erected in the west, 
would give bread to many a mechanic and labourer, who knows 
not where to procure it at present. 

7. The erection of these buildings on the prison lot could not 
produce any of these effects, except in a very limited degree. 
There is no city property it would benefit ; it might perhaps en- 
hance a small portion of private property, just in the neighbor- 
hood — it would furnish little more than employment to those 
engaged about the building, and it could not promote the gen- 
eral improvement of the City. Moreover, the quantity of 
ground is not sufficient for the purpose, and it is at the corner 
of streets, from which there would be so much noise as to pre- 
vent the transaction of business by our courts, &c. as is the case 
now. The location at Penn square would not injure any public 
or private property on the Eastern front, and being divided 
into four lots, v.ould admit of a more advantageous disposition 
of the public buildings for the accommodation of the city, coun- 
ty, and even state, if the Legislature, as they ought, should see 
fit to remove to the city. Being probably on the highest ground 
of the city, and having no other buildings near them, they could 
be so placed as to enjoy the greatest share of light, and the freest 
circulation of air; from the want of both of which our courts 
so much suffer. Besides the grounds might be tastefully improv- 
ed in such manner as to furnish to the citizens in the neighbour- 
hood a pleasant and fashionable walk. 

8. It has been, I think, suggested, that they might be erected on 
Independence Square, — either pulling down our venerable Inde- 
pendence Hall, and placing them in the centre, — or allowing the 
hall to remain, and occupy the portion towards Walnut Street. 
With regard to the first plan, the great difficulty would be, to ob- 
tain the consent of the citizens. The next objection is, that there 
is a provision in various acts of Assembly, passed in relation to this 
square, Avhich says : " that no part of the ground lying to the 
southward of the state-house should be converted into, or made 
use of for erecting buildings, but that the same shoidd be an open 
jiublic green and walk for ever." It would at least require the aid 
of the Legislature, if even the consent of the citizens coidd be ob- 
tained, to occupy with buildings a square so important to the health 
of so dense a portion of the city. 



24 

It has been objected, that many of our public buildhigs and insti- 
tutions are in the eastern part of the city, — such as the Custom- 
house, Exchange, Banks, Library, &c. With regard to the custom- 
house, we are now attempting to procure a new and permanent 
one. Let, then, it be located further west, for in a few years it 
will be required for the business of both rivers ; besides, as most of 
the merchants reside in the west, and visit their stores daily, they 
can suffer little inconvenience on this score. So also with the 
Exchange and Banks. But all these institutions or others will find 
locations where the wants of the greater portion require them, and 
if any of the present institutions require removal, the value of pro- 
perty in the eastern wards will no doubt increase with the increas- 
ing business and population, so as to justify their removal else- 
where. But many of our public institutions are already in the 
west. Of 67 churches 28 are west of Seventh Street. Some hav- 
ing been driven west by the crowded and noisy state of the city ; 
and others in pursuit of their congregations ; and most of these are 
the largest and most ornamental in the city. Most of the fashion- 
able, as well as best schools, as well private as public, are in the 
west. The University, Mint, Masonic Hall, Musical Fund Hall, 
Deaf and Dumb, and Blind Listitutions, Pennsylvania Hospital, 
Almshouse, Preston Retreat, Orphans' and Widows' Asylums, Wills' 
Hospital, &c. &c. are all in the west ; some of them seeking retire- 
ment from disturbance by a progressive population, in the country. 

That the time for erecting new buildings has arrived, is, I take 
for granted, admitted by all. Judges, juries, lawyers, — every body 
seems to say so. Some think it too soon to place them in Penn 
Square ; but we certainly will be thought more wise than our foie- 
fathers were, when they planted the present building where it is, — 
inaccessible probably six months in the year. We are precisely in 
opposite circumstances from them. Placed at the state-house when 
first erected, scarcely a house might be seen, — placed now at Penn 
Square, nothing else can be seen, because of the houses. It is 
convenient of access, by day or by night ; good pavements, lights 
by night, omnibus or rail-road cars in every direction, to suit those 
who choose not to walk, — of all which our forefathers knew nothing. 

Having now, at much more length than I at first intended, pre- 
sented my views on the subject, I shall submit it to those whose 
province it is to decide the question, after hearing the expressed 
sentiments of their constituents. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



014 311 812 5 



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